We are facing such a difficult decision: Do we cut essential city services that would affect all of us, but especially those who truly depend on them for survival; or, pay an increase of half-percent sales tax (which exempts services, rent, groceries, prescription medicine, utilities, diapers, and feminine hygiene products)?
Remember that money collected under Measure I can only be used locally for the benefit of the City of Santa Barbara and its residents and businesses.
The city faces an operating deficit of $7 million in 2025. While we can speculate on why there’s such a deficit, complain and criticize, we can also acknowledge and understand some of the root causes: the cost of recruiting and maintaining qualified employees and professionals on whom we rely for essential services; inflation and the rising costs of materials and services to build and make repairs; the rising cost of insurance; supply chain challenges that delay projects and add costs due to unanticipated changes; the effects of fires, floods, rains and mudslides; the challenges of planning and managing projects and deliverables in uncertain times. The FY2025 budget includes new costs as well. It will be the first year that the city will contribute to the new Regional Fire Communications Facility that includes one fire dispatch center to serve all municipal fire and EMS units in the county which will allow for the closest, most appropriate fire resource response regardless of jurisdiction.